|
AMQUA Council Meeting Minutes
(For Saturday, September 5, 1998 & Monday, October 26, 1998)
AMQUA Council Meeting
Saturday, September 5, 1998
Hotel Krystal Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Attendance
Officers: V. Holliday (outgoing President), R. Graham (incoming President), C.
Whitlock (incoming President Elect), M. Guccione (Treasurer), B. Styles (incoming
Secretary).
Council Members: S. Elias (Paleobiology), Lisa Ely (Paleoclimatology), E. Grimm
(Paleobiology), Emi Ito (Geochronology-Geophysics-Geochemistry), S. Lehman (Marine
Geoprocesses), R. Webb (Paleoclimatology).
Others: Steve Porter (INQUA), Socorro Lozano-Garcia (Local Organizing
Committee), Jaime Urrutia-Fucugauchi (Local Organizing Committee).
1. President's Welcome
President Vance Holliday called the meeting to order at 12:50 p.m.
2. Secretary's Report
Secretary Julie Brigham-Grette's report was distributed in absentia. President Holliday
reviewed key points.
A. The minutes of the 1997 meeting were accepted.
B. The results of the 1998 elections were given:
President Elect: Cathy Whitlock
Secretary: Bonnie Styles
Treasurer: Margaret Guccione
Councilors for 1998-2002
Terrestrial Geoprocesses: Edwin Hajic
Marine Geoprocesses: Anne Jennings
Geohistory: William Johnson
Paleobiology: Scott Elias
Geochronology-Geophysics-
Geochemistry: Emi Ito
Archaeology: David Yesner
Paleoclimatology: Robert Webb
Newsletter Editor (Ex-Officio):
Darrell Kaufman
Kaufman was reappointed as Newsletter Editor for another two year term.
At Brigham-Grette's suggestion, there was discussion of the lateness of the ballot.
Certain council slots were very difficult to fill. As President-Elect, Graham had to put
the slate together. He did not receive any nominations and asked the Council for
suggestions to improve the situation. Various suggestions were offered, e.g., have
outgoing councilors e mail suggestions for potential replacements to the President Elect,
place the call for nomination on the Website, place the call on the dues notice, encourage
the council to make nominations. Graham indicated that nominations were solicited via
e-mail and through an insert in the newsletter. Guccione noted that the dues notice is a
postcard so it can't serve as a vehicle for nominations.
C. Brigham-Grette will be hosting the AMQUA Booth (#1118) at the upcoming GSA meeting
in Toronto. Let her know if you can volunteer for the booth. She recommended that the
council develop a travel schedule for the booth for 1999 2000. Preregistration forms for
the 1999 GSA meeting in Denver will be passed on to Styles.
D. The Secretary's report announced that the Denise Gaudreau Award (a $500 award to a
female Ph.D. candidate pursuing Quaternary research) will be presented at the September 6
AMQUA Business Meeting to Cynthia Ann Ford, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Plant
Sciences at the University of Cambridge. The Secretary's report stressed the need to
better advertise the availability of the award. Holliday suggested advertising it in the
Newsletter and on the Website.
E. Brigham-Grette thanked the council members for all of their help during her tenure
as secretary. Holliday expressed gratitude to the outgoing secretary for her exemplary
service.
3. Treasurer's Report
Guccione distributed a hard copy of the Treasurer's report and commented on the overall
financial health of the organization. However, she noted a continuing decline in assets
and a second year in which expenses have exceeded income. Council members made suggestions
for combating these trends, e.g., distribute the Newsletter only on the Web, review fiscal
fluctuations relative to the annual meeting cycle, review the number of meetings at which
the booth is displayed (the new booth cost $8,000 and it costs about $1000 a meeting to
display it), and review the amount of support provided for student travel. Holliday noted
the need to develop a more precise budget that incorporates items such as the cost for
displaying the booth, student support, etc. Graham will appoint a budget committee to put
together a draft budget. Guccione suggested that the councilors review the itemized income
and expenses in the Treasurer's report. Porter commented on the need to archive the AMQUA
records. Graham indicated that he had contacted Brigham-Grette to send the original
records to him and argued that they should be archived at a museum such as the Denver
Museum of Natural History.
4. Biennial Meeting in Puerto Vallarta
Socorro Lozano-Garcia (Local Organizing Committee) reported on the success of the two
field trips. Eight members registered for the preconference trip and 12 registered for the
postconference trip. 120 registered for the conference. She noted that all 1000 of the
abstract volumes had been delivered to the conference and would need to be shipped to
Fayetteville.
5. Old Business
A. INQUA Issues
Steve Porter discussed a number of issues dealing with INQUA. There have been no formal
proposals for the 2003 INQUA Congress. The USA has not hosted the Congress since 1965. The
Desert Research Institute might be interested in hosting it. The INQUA Executive Committee
meets in England in April and they will need a formal proposal by August, 1999. The
Executive Committee is supportive of the congress coming to the USA. The next meeting of
the U.S. National Committee will be at the GSA in Toronto. The U.S. National Committee has
been charged with contacting U.S. groups who might be interested in hosting the congress.
University settings are ideal because of the availability of inexpensive accommodations.
Past congresses have drawn 700 2000 attendees. In the U.S. it would probably draw
1500-2500. It would be a good opportunity to summarize the Quaternary of the U.S.
B. QR Editorship
Porter noted that after serving as editor for Quaternary Research for 25 years, he
is ready to step down. He would like to see the editorial office stay at University of
Washington, but the ultimate decision will be up to Academic Press. He asked if anyone was
interested in the editorship.
C. Don Easterbrook's offer to endow AMQUA and GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology
President Holliday discussed Easterbrook's offer to endow both AMQUA and GSA (ca. $0.5 to
1 million). GSA has a foundation, but AMQUA does not currently have the infrastructure to
deal with an endowment. Easterbrook requested a proposal for how AMQUA would use ca.
$10,000 a year for research grants, etc. Holliday recommended the establishment of a
standing committee to draft suggestions. The committee will include Holliday, Graham, and
Whitlock. Whitlock recommended that the committee consult with an attorney about the legal
aspects of foundations.
D. Proposal for travel grants for the INQUA Congress in South Africa
Holliday indicated that he was not optimistic that AMQUA could provide support and noted
that this issue needed to be discussed at the AMQUA Council meeting in Toronto. Lehman and
Overpeck (members of the U.S. National Committee) are preparing a proposal to NSF to
secure travel monies for the meeting.
6. New Business
A. Proposals for 2000 AMQUA Biennial Meeting (AMQUA's 30th Birthday).
1. Guccione indicated that the University of Arkansas is interested in hosting the
meeting.
2. A variety of program ideas were discussed, e.g., the last 2,000 years, the
Mississippi Basin, the Next Millennium. The program and potential organizers need to be
targeted during the AMQUA Council meeting in Toronto.
B. AMQUA Booth Venues in 1999 and 2000. The booth will go to GSA in Denver in 1999.
There was a discussion of rotating the venues between GSA, AGU, and ESA. It was suggested
that the booth not be sent to 1999 SAA since it was at that meeting in 1998. There was
some discussion of sending it to the 1999 INQUA Congress in South Africa. The booth is
shipped in two crates. It will be shipped to Styles after the GSA meeting in Toronto. The
venues and associated costs should be designated in the Budget and resolved at the AMQUA
Council meeting in Toronto.
7. Other Business
A. $300/yr Travel Allowance for Councilors
Guccione noted that last year only two councilors applied for travel support, for a total
expenditure of $542. Holliday suggested that the Council informally agree that requests
can go a little over the $300 allotment. Council members should indicate if they are
planning to attend the GSA meeting in Toronto and indicate if they will need financial
support.
B. Biennial Meeting Format
Some AMQUA members have questioned the format of the annual meeting (i.e. one major theme
with invited presenters). Many council members made positive comments about the
traditional format of the meeting. The poster session allows numerous members to present
and a wide variety of topics. It was suggested that session leaders could actually plug
the poster sessions and we could consider allowing more time for the poster sessions.
However, allowing more time for posters might necessitate a three-day meeting. The overall
consensus was that the current format serves AMQUA well.
C. Next Council Meeting
Monday, October 26, 1998, 11:45-1:30 at the Toronto Sheraton, Wentworth Room.
8. Adjournment
President Holliday adjourned the meeting at 2:52 p.m.
Bonnie W. Styles, Secretary
Minutes
AMQUA Council Meeting
Monday, October 26, 1998
Toronto Sheraton, Wentworth Room
Toronto, Canada
Attendance
Officers: R.. Graham (President), C. Whitlock (President Elect), M. Guccione
(Treasurer), B. Styles (Secretary).
Council Members: A. Bettis (Geohistory), E. Grimm (Paleobiology), E. Hajic
(Terrestrial Geoprocesses), A. Jennings (Marine Geoprocesses), B. Johnson (Geohistory), L.
Ely (Paleoclimatology), E. Ito (Geochronology, Geophysics, Geochemistry), L. McFadden
(Terrestrial Processes), D. Meltzer (Archaeology), R. Webb (Palaeoclimatology)
Others: V. Holliday (ex officio, Past President), J. Brigham-Grette (Past
Secretary), Bill Farrand (INQUA)
1. President's Welcome
President Graham called the meeting to order at 11:50 a.m.
2. Secretary's Report
A. Secretary Styles distributed the minutes from the September 5, 1998 Council Meeting in
Puerto Vallarta. The minutes of the September 5 Council meeting were accepted.
B. Volunteers were requested to sign up to serve at the AMQUA Booth (#1118) at the
current GSA meeting.
3. Treasurer's Report
Treasurer Guccione distributed balance sheets and a full report will be E-mailed to
Councilors after the GSA meeting. Guccione noted that expenses exceeded income largely due
to expenses associated with support for speakers and students for the biennial meeting in
Puerta Vallarta. She noted that the abstracts from the meeting are being mailed out now.
She requested that councilors pay their dues.
4. Old Business
A. Venue for 16th Biennial AMQUA Meeting (AMQUA 2000). Three venues had been formally or
informally proposed and each venue was described and discussed.
1) Fayetteville, Arkansas
Guccione presented a proposal and letter from Allen McCartney, Director of the
Environmental Dynamics Program at the University of Arkansas inviting AMQUA to meet at the
University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in May, 2000. The proposal listed facilities for
the meetings and potential field trips to the Ozarks and Mississippi River (northwest
Arkansas, Boston Mountains, karst areas, lower Mississippi River valley, Rolling Red
Plains, New Madrid Seismic Zone, Buffalo National River, Springfield Plateau).
2) Anchorage, Alaska
Graham distributed a letter from David Yesner (AMQUA Councilor for Archaeology, Professor
of Anthropology, and director of the University of Alaska Anchorage Chapter of the Alaska
Quaternary Center) inviting AMQUA to meet at the University of Alaska Anchorage in August
or May, 2000. The letter listed the facilities for the meetings and potential field trips
to the Spencer Blackstone Ice Complex, the Bering Glacier, the Anchorage Area and Kenai
Peninsula, interior Alaska, the Nenana and Tanana Valleys, the south-central Alaskan
Coast. The letter also proposed themes for the meeting, but these will be considered
separately under Agenda Item 4.B.
3) Nashville, Tennessee
Holliday noted that he had received an informal invitation from Jay Noller and Lisa Wells
to hold the AMQUA 2000 meeting at Vanderbilt. However, a formal invitation was not
received prior to the GSA meeting and Vanderbilt was dropped from consideration.
4) The relative merits of the Fayetteville and Anchorage locations were discussed.
Given that AMQUA has not met in the southeastern United States since the 1970s and the
last biennial meeting required members to travel great distances, many councilors
indicated a preference to hold the AMQUA 2000 in Fayetteville. It was moved that the
council accept the Fayetteville proposal. The motion was seconded and passed. The AMQUA
2000 meeting will be held in Fayetteville. However, councilors expressed enthusiasm for
holding a future AMQUA meeting in Anchorage and the Council will encourage Anchorage to
resubmit their proposal for the 2002 meeting.
5) Preferences for the timing of the AMQUA 2000 meeting were presented. Several
councilors suggested that holidays and weekends should be avoided. The consensus was that
the meeting should be held on Monday-Wednesday (May 22-24) before the Memorial Day
weekend.
6) The length and character of field trips were discussed. Councilors suggested that
some field trips should relate to the meeting theme, but regionally significant locations
should also be included. They noted that short field trips are often well attended and
that multi-disciplinary trips also draw better attendance.
B. Program for AMQUA 2000
1) The themes presented in Yesner's letter were discussed. He proposed three interrelated
themes related to climatic change in northern settings: the paleoecology and archaeology
of Beringia; the relationships between late Pleistocene early Holocene climatic,
vegetation, and faunal change; and human migration/ colonization. The council decided that
these themes would certainly be more appropriate to an AMQUA meeting in Anchorage and that
they should be reconsidered if an invitation is extended to hold the 2002 meeting there.
2) The theme's presented in an e-mail from Ken Pierce, U. S. Geological Survey, were
discussed. He proposed the theme: "Changes in Climate Variability and Landscape
Responses: Future and Past."
3) Robin Webb reiterated his suggestion from the Puerto Vallarta Council meeting to
focus on the Mississippi Basin.
4) The relative merits of the climate variability and Mississippi Basin topics were
discussed. Some Councilors were concerned that Pierce's topic was too broad and that
Webb's was too regionally specific to be of general interest. The consensus was to merge
the two topics. Webb moved that the working concept for the meeting be climate variability
and landscape response with a focus, but not a sole focus, on mid-continental responses.
The motion was seconded and passed. Webb agreed to serve as Program Chair and Meltzer,
Bettis, and Whitlock agreed to assist.
C. AMQUA Budget Committee
Graham appointed a budget committee consisting of Graham, Whitlock, and Guccione to put
together a budget outline and they will circulate it to the council via e-mail.
D. Easterbrook Committee
Holliday explained Easterbrook's offer to endow both AMQUA and the GSA and indicated that
Easterbrook wanted a proposal for what AMQUA would do with the money. Councilors found
merit in following the lead of the GSA; however noted that the GSA has a foundation and is
better equipped to deal with the legal issues. Graham said he would look into the
possibility of establishing a foundation and explore tax shelters associated with planned
giving. A committee consisting of Holliday, Graham, and Whitlock was appointed at the
Council meeting in Puerto Vallarta and they will draft suggestions for presentation to the
Council. Holliday will meet with Easterbrook to get a better idea of his desires.
McFadden, who is involved with the GSA plans for the funds, indicated that Easterbrook
would like to see a well-regarded, long-time productive, innovative individual honored,
rather than using the monies to fund research projects. Councilors made a number of
recommendations for the use of the funds: support interdisciplinary research by graduate
students, support economically disadvantaged scholars from central and south America,
support promising young scientists, support interdisciplinary post-doctoral fellowships.
E. AMQUA Archives
Graham reiterated his concern from the Puerto Vallarta Council meeting that the AMQUA
records be properly archived. He will get the files from Brigham-Grette (past secretary)
and will explore the possibility of archiving them at the Smithsonian or the Denver Museum
of Natural History.
F. AMQUA Travel Grants for 1999
INQUA Congress in South Africa. Bill Farrand reported that the U.S. National Committee is
submitting a proposal to NSF asking for $50,000 in travel monies. They won't hear from NSF
until this winter and don't anticipate full funding. If funded they will provide around
$1200 a person to be used toward airfare, housing, but not registration or field trips
fees. The U.S. National Committee previously submitted a proposal to AMQUA to donate
travel monies. If monies are donated then they will be earmarked for AMQUA members. In
Salt Lake City, the AMQUA Council voted to support this in principle and noted that the
funds should be provided to students. The newly established budget committee will assess
the potential for AMQUA support and decide whether AMQUA should distribute funds or let
the U.S. National Committee do it.
G. AMQUA Booth Venues for 1999 and 2000
In 1998, the booth was sent to the GSA and the SAA. The Council voted to not send the
booth to the 1999 INQUA Congress in South Africa due to the expenses associated with
shipping and exhibition in this venue. It will be sent to the 1999 GSA in Denver. Other
1999 venues under consideration are the AGU and the ESA meetings. The Budget Committee
will consider this issue and determine which venues are most appropriate. Venues for the
year 2000 were not discussed. Webb suggested that for future meetings, we offer travel
awards to students who agree to staff the booth.
5. New Business
A. Distinguished Career Awards
The distinguished Career Award is given annually, but is presented at the biennial
meeting. Graham requested that councilors send him nominations (name of candidate and a
justification) for 1999 by the end of November.
B. 1998 Quaternary Highlights
Graham and Ardith Hansel (Illinois State Geological Survey) are co-authoring the
highlights for Geotimes. Send information for potential inclusion in the article to
Graham.
C. Increasing AMQUA Interactions with Mexico (Grimm)
1) Free membership for Mexican AMQUA speakers. Grimm requested that the Council consider
giving free three year memberships to AMQUA speakers from Mexico. Guccione noted that
membership cards were sent to AMQUA speakers for the Puerto Vallarta meeting.
2) Liaison with Mexican Union for the Study of the Quaternary. Grimm moved that the
Council ask the Mexican Union for the Study of the Quaternary to nominate an individual to
serve as a liaison to the AMQUA Council. The individual would be invited to attend AMQUA
Council meetings and would have an ex officio status. The motion was amended to offer the
same opportunity to CANQUA. The motion was seconded and passed. Graham will contact the
Mexican Union for the Study of Quaternary and CANQUA.
6. Other Business
Councilors inquired about the procedure for nominating individuals for the Council. Graham
indicated that the President Elect (C. Whitlock) is responsible for putting together the
ballot. She will put out a call for nominations next winter and any member can submit
nominations. From past experience, it is difficult to get nominations and convince
individuals to run for the Council.
7. Next Council Meeting
The next council meeting will be held at the 1999 GSA meetings in Denver.
8. Adjournment
Graham adjourned the meeting at 1:38 p.m.
Bonnie W. Styles, Secretary
|